Electric actuator
An electric actuator having an in-line rotation shaft, electric motor and encoder in which the encoder shaft, the motor shaft and the rotation shaft is concentric and integrally formed.
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This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/264,330, filed Jan. 26, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Art
The present invention relates generally to an electrically powered linear actuator and more particularly to an electrically powered actuator having an inline, direct motor mount and adapted for a variety of robotic or other applications. The invention has particular application to the control of robotic, pedestal or fixture welding guns and specifically, welding guns utilized in the automotive industry. The invention also has application to the actuation of clamping fixtures and the like in various industries such as the automotive industry.
2. The Prior Art
Various industries, and particularly the manufacturing industry, have utilized linear actuators to control the movements of automated welding guns, automated clamping fixtures, and the like. Specifically, in the automotive industry, actuation and control of welding guns and clamping fixtures has been accomplished using fluid actuators such as pneumatic or hydraulic actuators. While fluid actuators have functioned reasonably well for this purpose, they inherently embody various limitations. One, because of the possibility of leaks and failure of seals, etc. in the fluid actuators, there is always the concern of contamination of the worksite by a leaking fluid. Second, fluid actuators necessarily require a source of pressurized fluid and a fluid supply system. This leads to significant maintenance and other costs.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved actuator which overcomes the deficiencies and limitations of the prior art, and in particular, an improved actuator which is designed for use in controlling the movement of, and accommodating the loads associated with, welding guns, clamping fixtures and the like, such as those used in the automotive industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn contrast to the prior art, the present invention relates to an electric actuator having particular application to the actuation of welding guns, clamping fixtures or the like, and more particularly to the actuation of welding guns and clamping fixtures for use in the automotive manufacturing industry. In contrast to the fluid actuators of the prior art, the present invention provides an electrically powered in-line actuator which overcomes the limitations of the prior fluid actuators.
To minimize downtime and infra structure changes and the like during a changeover from existing fluid actuators to the electrically powered actuator of the present invention, the actuator of the present invention has been designed to fit within the same space or package and to be no heavier than existing fluid actuators, while at the same time providing at least comparable speed, thrust and range of movement. This is accomplished by utilizing a ball or roller screw electric actuator concept and by mounting the actuating motor in-line and directly to the actuator drive shaft. To provide additional advantages for maintenance or repair, the electric actuator of the present invention has also been designed to be comprised of a modular construction, thereby facilitating easy disassembly and substitution or repair of modular components.
To provide positioning accuracy to the actuator, a rotary or other similar encoder is provided. Like the motor, this encoder is provided in-line and in direct connection with the actuator drive shaft.
The actuator of the present invention also includes a means and mechanism for manually overriding the electrically powered actuator in the event of a loss of electrical power, actuator jamming or other actuator malfunction and a mechanism for enabling the actuator head and/or end cap to be rotated or mounted in a variety of different positions and/or configurations to accommodate different welding, clamping or actuation environments. In a preferred embodiment, a lubrication assembly is provided for insuring sufficient actuator lubrication and thus a reduction in maintenance. Means are also provided for accommodating the various loads (such as side loads) which are common with the actuation for welding guns and the like.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved actuator for welding guns, clamping fixtures and the like and more particularly for welding guns and clamping fixtures utilized in the automotive manufacturing industry.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical actuator which can replace the conventional fluid actuators of the automotive manufacturing industry without sacrificing size or weight restrictions, while still maintaining comparable thrust, speed, range of movement and load accommodation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an electric actuator having an in-line, direct motor mount and a manual override.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric actuator that eliminates or minimizes impact loading as the thrust tube reaches its innermost travel position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an in-line electrical actuator in combination with an improved axial bearing retaining means.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an electric actuator with a thrust assembly bearing combination to resist side loads and to isolate the roller screw from any such side loads.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical actuator for use in the automotive manufacturing industry which provides for universal mounting arrangements.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lubrication system for the actuator.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings, the description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims.
The present invention provides an improved actuator for use in providing controlled and accurate linear movement to a work piece. Although the actuator of the present invention has applicability to a variety of work pieces and in a variety of industries, it has particular application to the actuation of welding guns, clamping fixtures and the like for use in the automotive manufacturing industry. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment will be described with respect to the application of the present invention to welding guns, clamping fixtures or the like, without any implication that the present invention is limited to that application.
In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference is first made to
The motor section 12 is positioned between the ends 14 and 16 and includes an outer motor housing 18, a bearing plate or block 24 at its proximal end and a bearing plate or block 26 at its distal end. Positioned within the housing 18 is an electric motor 28 with conventional electric motor windings and other functional elements 20 and a motor drive shaft 22. The motor drive shaft 22 is centrally positioned within the housing 18 along the longitudinal axis 13 of the actuator and extends between the bearing blocks 24 and 26. The motor shaft 22 includes a distal end portion 30 which is rotatably supported within the bearing block 26 by the bearing 34 and a proximal end portion 32 which is rotatably supported by the bearing 38 in the bearing block 24. Both of the shaft portions 30 and 32 are integrally formed with and coaxial or in-line with the drive shaft 22 along the longitudinal axis 13. Further, as will be described below the shaft portion 30 is integrally formed with a threaded roller screw 36 and the shaft portion 32 is integrally formed with an encoder shaft extension 40 to support a rotary encoder 77.
As shown in the drawings, the motor shaft 22, the roller screw 36 and the encoder shaft extension 40 are concentric, inline and integrally formed from a single piece of shaft stock. Accordingly, at least all axial movement of or loads against the thrust tube 56 and the thrust tube assembly 46 is resisted by the screw 36. Because any axial movement of the shaft extension 40 and thus the encoder 77, beyond minimal tolerances, will tend to adversely affect the encoder 77 and the accuracy thereof, the shaft 36 must be axially captured relative to the housing 42 and the bearing block 26 to prevent or minimize any such movement.
To axially capture the screw 36 relative to the bearing block 26, the bearing 34 is press fit onto the shaft portion 30 so that its distal axial edge engages a bearing stop 103 which is integrally formed in the shaft portion 30. The proximal axial edge of the bearing 34 is secured relative to the bearing block 26 by a bearing retaining plate 63. As shown best in
The thrust section 16 of the actuator 10 includes a thrust tube housing 42 and a thrust tube head 44. The thrust tube housing 42 is rigidly connected between the bearing block 26 and the head 44 by a plurality of elongated threaded members 23 and 47 to define an internal thrust tube chamber 48. As shown in
Each of the bearing blocks 26 and the tube head 44 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 53 to mount the actuator relative to a fixed support (not shown). Although mounting holes 53 are shown on only two sides of the bearing block 26 and tube head 44, such mounting holes can be provided on all four sides to provide maximum mounting flexibility. Alternate mounting holes 57 (
As shown, the housing 42 is elongated, is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis 13 of the actuator and includes a plurality of sidewalls 43. The length of the housing 42 may vary depending on the desired movement range or function of the actuator. The housing 42, and thus the interior of the thrust chamber 48, has a square or multi-sided cross-sectional configuration. Although the housing may be constructed of a variety of materials, it is preferably extruded and constructed of a lightweight metal or metal alloy such as aluminum.
Positioned within the chamber 48 is a thrust tube assembly 46 which includes a roller screw nut 50, a roller screw coupler 52, a bearing or guide means 54 and a thrust tube 56. As illustrated best in
The impact loading relief assembly for the actuator of the present invention is shown generally in
The rotational component of impact loading between the screw 36 and the thrust tube 56 and end 62 is caused by the continued limited rotation of the screw 36 after initial engagement. This rotational component of impact loading is relieved by means which permits limited rotational movement between the screw 36 and the bumper 58. In the preferred embodiment, this means includes the pair of steel rings or discs 106 and 109 positioned on opposite sides of a self-lubricating, low friction ring or disc 108 at the proximal end of the bumper 58. Preferably, the ring 108 is constructed of a self-lubricating brass material commonly referred to as oilite. A further ring or disc 110 is positioned at the distal end of the bumper 58 as shown so that the bumper 58 is sandwiched between the washers 109 and 110. A tube or sleeve 111 is positioned over the threaded member 60 to support the rings 106, 108, 109, 110 and the bumper 58 as shown. The screw 60 is threadedly received by the distal end of the screw 36 as shown. During impact loading, the proximal edge surface of the thrust rod end 62 engages the ring 110.
Accordingly, it can be seen that the impact loading relief assembly or means in accordance with the present invention includes a means for relieving both the axial and rotational components of impact loading as the thrust tube reaches its innermost proximal position. Although the means for relieving the axial component is shown as the urethane bumper 58, this can include other compressible structure which permits limited axial movement of the end 62 relative to the threaded screw 36 after impact. Similarly, although the preferred embodiment discloses the low friction disc 108 sandwiched between the discs 106 and 109 as the means for relieving the rotational component of impact loading, such means can be comprised of various other structures such as a variety of bearing members which permit limited rotational movement of the threaded screw 36 relative to the bumper 58 or other axial relief means after impact. Further, although the preferred embodiment shows the impact loading relief assembly as being threadedly received in the end of the screw 36, it could also be threadedly received in the end 62.
The roller screw nut 50 is a conventional roller screw nut having a plurality of planetary or peripherally positioned roller screws. During operation of the actuator, these planetary roller screws engage the outer threads of the roller screw shaft 36 and remain rotationally fixed relative to the housing 42 to convert the rotational movement of the shaft 36 into axial movement of the thrust tube assembly 46. Thus, the assembly 46 moves axially between a retracted position shown in
The bearing 54 which guides axial movement of the thrust assembly within the housing 42 is rigidly connected to the roller screw coupler 52 as shown in
As shown best in
The proximal or control and power supply end 14 of the actuator includes an extension 40 of the motor shaft 22 and a rotary encoder 77 mounted to the shaft extension 40. The rotary encoder 77 is a conventional rotary encoder which includes a pair of connection tabs or ears 91 for connecting the encoder 77 to the bearing plate 24. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft extension 40 is integrally formed with and is axially aligned with the proximal shaft portion 32 and thus the motor shaft 22. In the embodiment shown in
A cover 93 is connected with the proximal end of the bearing plate 24. The cover 93 has a generally hollow interior to define a chamber 76 (
As illustrated best in
A motor shaft access cover 90 provides rotational access to the shaft extension 92 through an opening 94 in the cover 93. The access cover 90 is preferably provided with exterior threads to be received by internal threads in the cover 93 and is designed for selective manual rotation and thus removal. When removed, access is provided to the shaft extension 92 through the opening 94 so that the extension 92 and the entire motor shaft 22 and roller screw shaft 36 can be manually rotated by a wrench or other tool if desired.
With the structure in accordance with the present invention, axial movement of the fixture connection end 64 of the thrust tube assembly 46, and thus the welding gun or other fixture attached thereto, can be precisely and accurately controlled by rotation of the motor shaft 22. As the motor shaft 22 and thus the roller screw shaft 36 rotates in a first rotational direction, this rotational movement is converted to an axial movement of the thrust tube assembly 46 and thus the fixture end 64 and attached fixture in a first axial direction such as from the retracted position shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the actuator is generally provided with a lead of about two millimeters (mm) to six millimeters (mm) and preferably about four millimeters (mm). For purposes of the present invention, the “lead” as used in this context is the axial distance which the thrust assembly 46 and thus the connected fixture will advance during one revolution of the roller screw shaft 36. By reducing the lead for a particular actuator, by increasing the thread density, a commensurate reduction in motor size can be made without jeopardizing any thrust. Although speed of movement may be jeopardized somewhat, this is generally not a major issue. Accordingly, with a smaller lead, and thus a smaller motor, the entire package size of an actuator for a given application can be reduced.
The recessed connector post or grommet embodiment shown in
To prevent dust and other contamination from entering the interior of the chamber 48 through the access opening 100, a closure means 99 is provided to close the opening 100 during normal operation of the actuator. In the preferred embodiment, this closure means is in the form of a sliding window or gate 99 which is slideable between a closed position shown in
Accordingly, it can be seen that the actuator modification illustrated in
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with respect to a roller screw with planetary roller screws, it is contemplated that other means such as a ball screw or the like, among others, can also be used to convert the rotational movement of the roller screw shaft 36 into axial motion of the thrust tube assembly 46.
Although the description of the preferred embodiment has been quite specific, it is contemplated that various modifications could be made without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by the appended claims rather than by the description of the preferred embodiment.
Claims
1. A welding apparatus comprising:
- an electric actuator having an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis;
- a threaded rotation shaft being rotationally supported with the housing;
- a thrust member having a proximal end and a distal end and being axially moveable relative to said rotation shaft along said longitudinal axis, said thrust member including a nut portion near its proximal end, said thrust member and said nut portion being axially moveable and rotationally fixed relative to said housing;
- an electric motor operatively connected with said rotation shaft;
- first and second bearing members, one of said first and second bearing members fixed relative to a portion of said housing and operatively engaged with said thrust member and the other of said first and second bearing members fixed relative to a portion of said thrust member and moveable therewith relative to said housing;
- a welding gun attached to said electric actuator; and
- an actuation link between said thrust member and a portion of said welding gun.
2. The welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said welding gun includes at least one welding tip positioned offset from said longitudinal axis.
3. The welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said thrust member includes a tube portion between said nut portion and its distal end.
4. The welding apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first bearing member is fixed relative to a portion of said thrust member and moveable therewith relative to said housing and said second bearing member is positioned between said tube portion and a portion of said housing and operatively engaged with said tube member.
5. The welding apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first bearing member is fixed relative to said nut portion and said second bearing member is fixed relative to a portion of said housing.
6. The welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first bearing member is fixed relative to said nut portion and said second bearing member is fixed relative to said housing.
7. A welding apparatus comprising:
- an electric actuator having an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis;
- a threaded rotation shaft being rotationally supported with the housing;
- a thrust member having a proximal end and a distal end and being rotationally fixed relative to said housing and axially moveable relative to said rotation shaft along said longitudinal axis;
- an electric motor operatively connected with said rotation shaft;
- a welding gun attached to said electric actuator;
- an actuation link between said thrust member and a portion of said welding gun; and
- first and second bearing members, one of said first and second bearing members fixed relative to a portion of said housing and operatively engaged with said thrust member and the other of said first and second bearing members fixed relative to a portion of said thrust member and moveable therewith relative to said housing.
8. The welding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first bearing member is fixed relative to a portion of said thrust member and said second bearing member is fixed relative to said housing.
9. The welding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said thrust member includes a nut portion and a tube portion and wherein said nut portion has an outer cross-sectional dimension greater than the outer cross-sectional dimension of said tube portion.
10. The welding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said thrust member includes a nut portion and a tube portion and wherein said first bearing member is fixed relative to said nut portion and said second bearing member is positioned between said tube portion and a portion of said housing.
11. The welding apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second bearing member is fixed relative to said housing and operatively engaged with said tube portion.
12. The welding apparatus of claim 3 wherein said nut portion has an outer cross-sectional dimension greater than the outer cross-sectional dimension of said tube portion.
13. The welding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said thrust member comprises a coupling nut.
14. The welding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said thrust member includes a first portion near its proximal end, said first portion having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, and said thrust member further includes a second portion, said second portion comprising an elongated tubular portion having a generally circular cross-sectional configuration.
15. The welding apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first portion has an outer cross-sectional dimension greater than the outer cross-sectional dimension of said tubular portion.
16. The welding apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first portion is a coupling nut and said second portion is a thrust tube.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 29, 2004
Date of Patent: Nov 28, 2006
Patent Publication Number: 20040251239
Assignee: Tol-O-Matic, Inc. (Hamel, MN)
Inventors: Keith Hochhalter (Minnetrista, MN), Eugene F. Case (Andover, MN)
Primary Examiner: Len Tran
Attorney: Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Application Number: 10/879,394
International Classification: B23K 37/02 (20060101);